spiff-arena/docs/appendices/bpmn_terminology.md

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# BPMN Terminology
## Activity
This refers to the work carried out by an individual or an organization within a process.
Activities can be classified into three categories: Task, Subprocess, and Call Activity.
These activities can be either atomic or non-atomic.
Atomic activities are indivisible and represent single tasks, while non-atomic activities involve multiple steps or subprocesses that work together to achieve a larger objective.
## Boundary Event
This refers to an event that can be triggered while an activity is in progress.
Boundary events are utilized for error and exception handling purposes.
## BPMN Model
This is a visual depiction of a business process designed to be both human-readable and machine-readable, typically represented in XML format.
## Business Process
This is a sequence of interconnected activities conducted by individuals and systems, following a defined order, with the aim of delivering a service or product, or accomplishing a specific business objective.
These processes involve the receipt, processing, and transfer of information and resources to generate desired outputs.
## Diagram
This is the visual platform where business processes are represented and mapped out.
## Call Activity
This refers to the act of a parent or higher-level process invoking a predefined or reusable child process, which is represented in another process diagram.
This invocation allows for the utilization of the child process multiple times, enhancing reusability within the overall model.
## Collapsed Subprocess
This is a Subprocess that conceals the underlying process it includes.
## Connecting Element
These are lines that establish connections between Flow Elements within a process, creating a Flow.
There are four distinct types of connecting elements: Sequence Flows, Message Flows, Associations, and Data Associations.
## Elements
These are the fundamental components used to construct processes.
These elements encompass Flow Elements, Connecting Elements, Data Elements, Artifacts, and Swimlanes.
## End Event
This marks the conclusion of a process.
An End Event can result in a Message, Error, or Signal outcome.
## Error
This denotes a significant issue encountered during the execution of an Activity or process, indicating a failure or malfunction in the processing.
## Event
This is an occurrence within a process that influences the Flow and typically involves a trigger and/or a result.
Events can be categorized into four types: Start, Intermediate, End, and Boundary.
## Event-Based Gateway
This marks a specific point within the process where alternative paths are initiated based on the occurrence of an Event.
## Exception
This is an Event within the process that deviates from the normal flow of execution.
Exceptions can be triggered by Time, Error, or Message Events.
## Exclusive Gateway
This denotes a juncture within the process where multiple alternative paths are available, but only one path can be chosen.
The decision regarding the chosen path is determined by a condition.
## Expanded Subprocess
This is a Subprocess that shows the process it contains.
## Gateway
This is a component that governs the available paths within a process.
Gateways can merge or diverge paths or introduce additional paths based on conditions or Events.
There are four types of Gateways: Exclusive, Parallel, Inclusive, and Event-Based.
## Intermediate Event
This is an event that occurs in the middle of a process, neither at the start nor the end.
It can be connected to other tasks through connectors or placed on the border of a task.
It evaluates conditions and circumstances, triggering events and enabling the initiation of alternative paths within the process.
## Join
This refers to the process of merging two or more parallel Sequence Flows into a single path using a Parallel Gateway.
## Lane
These are subdivisions within a Pool that are utilized to assign activities to specific roles, systems, or departments.
## Merge
This is the process in which two or more parallel Sequence Flow paths converge into a single path, achieved either through multiple incoming Sequence Flows or by utilizing an Exclusive Gateway.
This merging of paths is also commonly referred to as an "OR-Join."
## Message
This signifies the content of a communication exchanged between two Participants.
The message is transmitted through a Message Flow.
## Non-atomic Activity
This refers to an Activity that can be further decomposed into more detailed steps or subtasks.
A Subprocess is an example of a non-atomic Activity.
It is also commonly referred to as a "compound" Activity.
## Parallel Gateway
This indicates a specific point within the process where the Flow divides or merges into multiple parallel paths.
## Parent Process
This is a process that contains a Subprocess.
## Participant
This refers to a business entity, which can be an organization, department, unit, or role involved in a process.
## Pool
This represents a Participant in a process.
## Sequence Flow
This specifies the sequence and behavior of the Flow Elements within a process.
## Signal
This is an Event that is transmitted to all individuals or entities participating in a process.
## Start Event
This indicates where a process starts.
## Subprocess
This is a self-contained and compound Activity incorporated within a process, capable of being further decomposed into smaller units of work.
## Swimlane
This is a visual representation that separates processes based on the Participants responsible for performing them.
Swimlanes are comprised of Pools and Lanes.
## Task
This is an action performed by a person, an application, or both.
## Text Annotation
This provides additional information about the elements in a diagram.
## Trigger
This is a mechanism that detects and identifies a particular condition or circumstance within a Start Event or Intermediate Event, subsequently initiating a corresponding response.